CHAPTER FIVE.
Directly on stepping outside Omar's hut Abdulla caught sight of Willems.
He expected, of course, to see a white man, but not that white man, whom he knew so well.

Everybody who traded in the islands, and who had any dealings with Hudig, knew Willems.

For the last two years of his stay in Macassar the confidential clerk had been managing all the local trade of the house under a very slight supervision only on the part of the master.

So everybody knew Willems, Abdulla amongst others--but he was ignorant of Willems' disgrace.

As a matter of fact the thing had been kept very quiet--so quiet that a good many people in Macassar were expecting Willems' return there, supposing him to be absent on some confidential mission.